care is so extensive that a sparrow falls not without his notice; and thus in a tender frame of mind I spoke to them of the necessity of our yielding in true obedience to the instructions of our Heavenly Father, who sometimes through adversities intendeth our refinement.

About eleven at night I went out on the deck. The sea wrought exceedingly, and the high, foaming waves round about had in some sort the appearance of fire, but did not give much if any light. The sailor at the helm said he lately saw a corposant at the head of the mast. I observed that the master of the ship ordered the carpenter to keep on the deck; and, though he said little, I apprehended his care was that the carpenter with his axe might be in readiness in case of any extremity. Soon after this the vehemency of the wind abated, and before morning they again put the ship under sail.

Tenth of fifth month. It being the first day of the week and fine weather, we had a meeting in the cabin, at which most of the seamen were present; this meeting was to me a strengthening time. 13th. As I continue to lodge in the steerage I feel an openness this morning to express something further of the state of my mind in respect to poor lads bound apprentice to learn the art of sailing. As I believe sailing is of use in the world, a labor of soul attends me that the pure counsel of truth may be humbly waited for in this case by all concerned in the business of the seas. A pious father whose mind is exercised for the everlasting welfare of his child may not with a peaceable mind place him out to an employment among a people whose common course of life is manifestly corrupt and profane. Great is the present defect among seafaring men in regard to virtue and piety; and, by reason of an abundant traffic and many ships being used for war, so many people are employed on the sea that the subject of placing lads to this employment appears very weighty.

When I remember the saying of the Most High through his prophet, "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise," and think of placing children among such to learn the practice of sailing, the consistency of it with a pious education seems to me like that mentioned by the prophet, “There is no answer from God."

Profane examples are very corrupting and very forcible. And as my mind day after day and night after night hath been affected with a sympathizing tenderness towards poor children who are put to the employment of sailors, I have sometimes had weighty conversation with the sailors in the steerage, who were mostly respectful to me and became more so the longer I was with them. They mostly appeared to take kindly what I said to them; but their minds were so deeply impressed with the almost universal depravity among sailors that the poor creatures in their answers to me have revived in my remembrance that of the degenerate Jews a little before the captivity, as repeated by Jeremiah the prophet, "There is no hope."

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

[The story of Benjamin Franklin's long and eventful life cannot here be given in detail. He was born in Boston in 1706, and died in Philadelphia in 1790. As a boy he was precocious, and he remained vigorous until his death; so that his active career covered a longer period than the lifetime of most men. He saw the profoundest changes in politics, social life, and scientific thought, and he himself had a part in much that was accomplished in these different lines of activity. He was long an influential editor and publisher at Philadelphia; he served Pennsylvania in various official capacities at home, and as agent in England; he was postmaster-general for the colonies, member of the committee which drafted the Declaration of Independence, Minister to France, member of the Peace Commission, and delegate to the Constitutional Convention; he won international fame for his researches in science; he promoted many plans for civic improvements, and for the founding of educational and benevolent institutions; and in his "Autobiography" he wrote the first American book that is still of wide general interest.

Franklin's strength and versatility were personal qualities which would have been the same anywhere; but it may aid in understanding his character to remember that he was a New Englander who found an opportunity for development in the freer atmosphere of Pennsylvania. The intenser religious faith and the finer idealism of Puritanism he seems never to have had. But he embodied in an unusual degree the shrewdness and practicality of the Puritans. In all that concerned practical matters and getting on in the world he was a typical Yankee. An unfortunate side of his character is seen in many intolerably coarse passages of his writings, and in his “errata,” as, in printer's metaphor, he called his breaches of the moral law. These last are to a slight extent redeemed by the frankness with which he confesses them, and regrets them. Neither his life nor his writings were such as to offer the highest inspiration, and yet few writers have had a stronger influence for right living. The secret of this anomaly is that he believed the most practical way to make people good was to teach them to be healthy, wealthy, and wise.

The collected writings of Franklin fill ten large volumes, and treat a great variety of subjects. Most of them are interesting. It is not alone the scientist or the historian who will enjoy reading his accounts of electrical experiments, or his lively political satires. Still, his fame as an author rests mainly on the "Poor Richard Sayings," the "Autobiography," and to a lesser degree on a few of the shorter essays or "Bagatelles." The "Poor Richard Sayings" were proverbs and brief commentaries on life, originally

published in "Poor Richard's Almanack," which Franklin edited for many years. Not all these were strictly Franklin's own, but most of those which he borrowed he transformed so as to make them pass current. No other one author has contributed to the language so many familiar aphorisms on practical matters. In 1757 Franklin incorporated many of these sayings in "The Way to Wealth," a portion of which is given below. The "Autobiography" was written in four sections, at intervals from 1771 to just before the author's death. The first part was intended only for the members of the family, but in writing the latter parts Franklin seems to have recognized that they would be published. The charm of the "Autobiography" is due to the naïve frankness of the author, and to the absolute clearness and simplicity of his style. It is one of the few works that interest persons of all ages, and all varieties of taste. The "Bagatelles" were slight essays written while Franklin was in France, and in some cases privately printed in his own house for a small circle of friends. A few of them, such as "The Ephemera," "The Whistle," and the "Dialogue between Franklin and the Gout," were once generally known; but they are less spontaneous than most of the author's work, and to modern readers probably less interesting.

The selections are all from the latest and most accurate collection of Franklin's writings, edited by Albert H. Smyth.]

POOR RICHARD'S ADVICE

[From "The Way to Wealth," the Preface to "Poor Richard Improved," for 1758]

COURTEOUS READER

I have heard that nothing gives an Author so great Pleasure, as to find his Works respectfully quoted by other learned Authors. This Pleasure I have seldom enjoyed; for tho' I have been, if I may say it without Vanity, an eminent Author of Almanacks annually now a full Quarter of a Century, my Brother Authors in the same Way, for what Reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their Applauses, and no other Author has taken the least Notice of me, so that did not my Writings produce me some solid Pudding, the great Deficiency of Praise would have quite discouraged me.

I concluded at length, that the People were the best Judges of my Merit; for they buy my Works; and besides, in my Rambles, where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my Adages repeated, with, as Poor Richard says, at the End on't; this gave me some Satisfaction, as it showed not

only that my Instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some Respect for my Authority; and I own, that to encourage the Practice of remembering and repeating those wise Sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great Gravity.

Judge, then how much I must have been gratified by an Incident I am going to relate to you. I stopt my Horse lately where a great Number of People were collected at a Vendue of Merchant Goods. The Hour of Sale not being come, they were conversing on the Badness of the Times and one of the Company call'd to a plain clean old Man, with white Locks, "Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the Times? Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the Country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to ?" Father Abraham stood up, and reply'd, "If you'd have my Advice, I'll give it you in short, for A Word to the Wise is enough, and many Words won't fill a Bushel, as Poor Richard says." They join'd in desiring him to speak his Mind, and gathering round him, he proceded as follows;

"Friends," says he, and Neighbours, "the Taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the Government were the only Ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grevious to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness, three times as much by our Pride, and four times as much by our Folly; and from these Taxes the Commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an Abatement. However let us hearken to good Advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says, in his Almanack of 1733.

It would be thought a hard Government that should tax its People one-tenth Part of their Time, to be employed in its Service. But Idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute Sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle Employments or Amusements, that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on Diseases, absolutely shortens Life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than Labour wears; while the used Key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love Life, then do not squander Time, for that's the stuff Life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that The sleeping Fox catches no